The Houston area is known for hot, humid summers, which cause stress not only to people, but also to the environment. This year, there has been markedly less rainfall than usual, which has produced drought conditions. Although your lawn may show more obvious signs of drought  stress, your trees may also be quietly suffering.

1.       Leaves which are wilting, curling and/or yellowing;

2.       Leaves may be smaller or drop prematurely;

3.       Deciduous leaves may turn brown on the edges or between the veins; or,

4.       Evergreen leaves may turn yellow or red while their leaf tips will turn brown, progressing back to the twig.

There may also be underlying problems that can result in insect or disease attacks that can kill your trees.

To mitigate the stressful effects of heat and drought, proper watering is imperative. Trees will benefit most from deeper, less frequent watering. This may be done using a garden hose on a slow trickle, which will minimize the loss of water that results from spray or run off. Slow saturation of the top 12 inches of soil under the entire canopy is optimal. Equally important is allowing the tree adequate time to dry between watering.

Different tree species will vary in their ability to cope with heat and drought conditions. However, as a general rule, established trees should be watered once a week with 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter. Newly planted trees may need this type of watering two to three times per week.

If you suspect that your valuable trees or landscape may be suffering from drought stress, call the professionals at Embark Tree and Landscape Services. Our staff of trained arboricultural, horticultural and irrigation experts may help you develop a plan which will both protect your investments and while minimizing wasteful water consumption.